Browse with Brooke: Dressers For Any Budget
Where to buy cheap dressers from your favorite retailers
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Finding a good, solid dresser can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. I am pretty particular about the furniture pieces I choose that anchor a space, and I think dressers definitely fulfill that role in a bedroom, guest room, or even used as a sideboard in a dining room depending on the shape and size. I like to choose dressers that are made of solid wood, or at least have a solid wood frame. Mainly because they won’t fall apart when tossed around or chip off when moved. I also like the idea of having a piece that I can pass down or that can stand up to a DIY stain or paint update if inspiration ever strikes down the road. If you’re lucky, you’ll find cheap dressers made out of solid wood, but usually the the lower the price tag, the lower the wood quality. Don’t worry though, because if you know what to look for, you can always find the right dresser in your budget. Here’s how:
Dresser Shopping - What to Look For
Typically, furniture made from hardwood will wear better. You want to look for pieces made of oak, cherry, walnut, mahogany, teak, or maple. Softwood like pine, is a little less durable to wear and tear. Of course, the more solid wood that is used on the piece, the pricier it can get, so if you are needing to keep to a certain budget, then go for a hard wood frame and soft wood or faux wood drawer paneling system. If you have to go with artificial wood, I like to find pieces made with plywood over particleboard. I also look at the drawer pulls. Wood pulls tend to glide a bit more easily than the metal pulls.
After looking at the wood quality, I look at the sizing. I like deep dresser drawers that are shorter because I think they are easier to get things in and out of. I typically go for dressers with an 18 - 24 inch depth. I don’t like having to reach to the very back of the dresser to pull out a pair of shorts for the day, and I don’t like when my clothes get trapped behind the drawers! I also tend to stick to drawer sets of six! I don’t get hung up on the dresser pulls, those are super easy to change out. One of the highest indications to me of overall quality is how easily the drawers pull in and out. I always check to see if they stick. I also like to run my hand inside the drawers to see if the piece has been smoothly sanded down.
The last thing I check for is the drawer stops. Usually more quality pieces will have a corner block or drawer stop at the back of the piece. I use these tools whether I am evaluating a piece I am buying on marketplace, an antique store, or buying new. The principles are all the same!
If you are looking for a new dresser though, I have compiled a list of all my favorite pieces that check (most) of these boxes. I have found dressers for any budget, style, or room! You can browse them all below. Remember, look for the overall style and quality of the piece. If you don’t like the pulls, they can be changed in the future or a lot of retailers have different options to choose from! Click the images below to shop!
